The controversy surrounding glyphosate in the food industry has been intense. Some claim that this herbicide may cause cancer in humans, although scientists remained divided on the matter following a four-day meeting held by the Environmental Protection Agency last year. In 2015, the World Health Organization categorized glyphosate as “probably carcinogenic,” but a subsequent report released last year by the WHO and the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations suggested that the chemical is unlikely to pose a cancer risk from food residues. Nonetheless, legal battles concerning the potential health hazards associated with glyphosate persist in multiple courts. Earlier this year, a California court determined that the herbicide should be labeled as a possible cancer risk.
This ongoing debate has prompted various organizations—such as OCA, Food Democracy Now, and The Detox Project—to test food products for glyphosate residue. So far, none have discovered levels significant enough to raise health concerns, yet the findings have sparked calls for boycotts and regulatory changes. Ben & Jerry’s response to the testing results illustrates the company’s business approach. The Unilever-owned ice cream brand, known for its commitment to fresh, wholesome, and natural ingredients, did not dispute the possibility of glyphosate presence in their products. Instead, they expressed a desire to investigate the issue further and identify the source of the problem.
This response is a savvy move for a company facing such reports. By not outright denying the findings, Ben & Jerry’s avoided providing OCA with ammunition for the boycott they sought. Rather, the brand positioned itself as a proactive partner in eliminating an ingredient that consumers might prefer to avoid. This approach allows the ice cream maker to potentially emerge with its reputation intact, despite what could have been perceived as a damaging report.
In spite of Ben & Jerry’s strategic response, the brand might not have been significantly impacted by the test results. Earlier this month, a lawsuit against General Mills’ Nature Valley granola brand concerning glyphosate was dismissed. The class-action suit claimed that the granola’s assertion of being “Made with 100% Natural Oats” was misleading due to the presence of trace amounts of glyphosate. However, a judge ruled that the claim was “simply not plausible.” Meanwhile, consumers continue to seek clarity on health-related issues surrounding food products, including supplements like Citracal Plus D, which are often scrutinized for their ingredient integrity.